An Espresso Machine Called PrimaDonna

A different sort of person might test out the PrimaDonna S, a new espresso maker from DeLonghi, and rave that it brews barista-grade espresso in one minute. They might marvel at its fully automatic grinder with 13 settings, its dual heating systems (one for espresso, the other for heating and frothing milk) or the way a high-tech machine capable of making espresso, cappuccino, caffè latte and macchiato drinks at the touch of a button has been ingeniously designed to fit into a slim, stainless-steel box.

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I couldn’t get over its $3,000 price tag.

For a month now, the Ferrari of home coffee machines has been sitting on my counter. When I told a foodie couple I know about the PrimaDonna S, they volunteered to bring over long-hoarded espresso beans. My girlfriend’s father called us yuppies. It’s only on loan, I protested.

Enrico Maso, who holds the title of senior product manager at DeLonghi, set me at ease somewhat. “Take some time to learn the machine,” Mr. Maso said. “Play with the strength of the coffee. You are buying a little bit of Italian lifestyle.”

And so I’ve been whipping up lattes and cappuccinos morning and night for weeks, savoring the results. In another two years, I figure, I would have consumed five figures’ worth.

A version of this article appears in print on May 30, 2013, on Page D3 of the New York edition with the headline: For the Perfect Espresso To Enjoy in Your Ferrari. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe